Delphinium plant named ‘Delft Blue’

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Delphinium plant named ‘Delft Blue’, characterized by its upright plant habit; freely flowering habit; and blue and light blue bi-colored flowers.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Delphinium belladonacultivar Delft Blue.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofDelphinium plant, botanically known as Delphinium belladona, andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Delft Blue’.

The new Delphinium was discovered by the Inventor in 1999 in acontrolled environment in Noordwijkerhout, The Netherlands, as anaturally-occurring whole plant mutation of the Delphinium belladonacultivar Volkerfrieden, not patented. The new Delphinium was selected bythe Inventor on the basis of its unique blue and light blue bi-coloredflowers.

Asexual reproduction of the new Delphinium by cuttings in a controlledenvironment in Noordwijkerhout, The Netherlands, since 2000, has shownthat the unique features of this new Delphinium are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar Delft Blue have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensitywithout, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Delft Blue’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Delft Blue’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Upright plant habit.

2. Freely flowering habit.

3. Blue and light blue bi-colored flowers.

Plants of the cultivar Delft Blue differ from the parent cultivar,Volkerfrieden and other Delphinium cultivars known to the Inventor inits unique flower coloration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Delphinium, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Delphinium.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Delft Blue’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a close-up view oftypical flowers of ‘Delft Blue’.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view ofthe upper surface of a typical leaf of ‘Delft Blue’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants used for thephotographs and the following description were about two years old andgrown under outdoor field conditions which closely approximatecommercial production conditions in Hillegom, The Netherlands. Duringthe production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18 to 32° C.and night temperatures ranged from 10 to 18° C. The photographs anddescription were taken in August, 2002.

Botanical classification: Delphinium belladona cultivar Delft Blue.

Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of the Delphiniumbelladona cultivar Volkerfrieden, not patented.

Propagation:

Type cutting.—By cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.—About 14 days at 14° C.

Time to produce a rooted cutting.—About 40 days at 20° C.

Root description.—Fine.

Plant description:

Form.—Upright perennial flowering plant with single flowers arranged onracemes; numerous flower racemes per plant; moderately vigorous growthhabit.

Plant height.—About 100 cm.

Plant diameter.—About 60 cm.

Primary flowering stems.—Quantity: About three per plant. Length: About100 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm. Internode length: About 6.5 cm.Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth. Color: 143A to 143B.

Foliage description.—Arrangement: Rosette at the base and alternatealong flowering stems; simple. Length: About 15.4 cm. Width: About 17.4cm. Shape: Deeply pedately-lobed. Apex: Acute. Base: Hastate. Margin:Incised to laciniate. Texture: Upper surface: Glabrous. Lower surface:Sparse pubescence at veins. Venation pattern: Laciniate. Color: Youngfoliage, upper surface: 137B. Young foliage, lower surface: 138B. Fullyexpanded foliage, upper surface: 139A. Fully expanded foliage, lowersurface: 138B. Venation, upper surface: 143A. Venation, lower surface:143B to 143C. Petiole: Length: About 14.6 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely pubescent. Color: 143B to143C.

Flower description:

Appearance.—Single flowers arranged in terminal racemes; flowerszygomorphic. Flowers face mostly outward. Flowers not persistent.

Quantity of flowers.—About 15 racemes with about 12 flowers each.

Natural flowering season.—Flowering continuous from July throughSeptember in The Netherlands.

Fragrance.—None detected.

Flower longevity on the plant.—About ten days.

Flower longevity as a cut flower.—At least ten days.

Inflorescence size.—Length: About 26 cm. Diameter: About 11 cm.

Flower size.—Diameter: About 4.2 cm. Depth, excluding spur: About 3.7cm.

Flower buds.—Length, including spur: About 3 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm.Shape: Ovoid. Color: 145C; towards the apex, 143A.

Petals/petaloids.—Appearance/arrangement: About four petals per flowerarranged in a single whorl. Length: Upper petals: About 1.1 cm. Lowerpetals: About 1 cm. Width: Upper petals: About 4 mm. Lower petals: About6 mm. Shape: Upper petals: Narrowly spatulate to almost oblong. Lowerpetals: Spatulate to flabellate. Apex: Upper petals: Obtuse. Lowerpetals: Emarginate. Margin, upper and lower petals: Entire. Texture:Upper petals: Smooth. Lower petals: Pubescent. Color: Upper petals: Whenopening and fully opened, upper surface: Between 93A and 96A. Whenopening and fully opened, lower surface: 96A; towards the base, 93B.Lower petals: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: 93A; towardsthe apex, 96A; at the center, yellow, 5A to 5B, hairs. When opening andfully opened, lower surface: 93A; towards the apex, 96A.

Sepals.—Quantity/arrangement: Five per flower; rotate. Length: Upper andlower sepals: About 2.3 cm. Lateral sepals: About 2.2 cm. Width: Upperand lateral sepals: About 1.4 cm. Lower sepals: About 1.2 cm. Shape, allsepals: Obovate to elliptic. Apex, all sepals: Obtuse. Base, all sepals:Cuneate. Margin, all sepals: Entire. Color, all sepals: When opening andfully opened, upper surface: 100A; towards the margins, 101B to 100D;spot near the apex, 147B. When opening and fully opened, lower surface:96B to 96C; towards the margins, 97A to 97B; spot near the apex, 147A to147B. Spur: Arrangement: On uppermost sepal, downwardly bending. Length:About 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Color: Upper surface: 92B to 92C.Lower surface: Towards the base, 92B; towards the apex, 93A.

Pedicel.—Length: About 4.5 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Angle: About 65 to75° from vertical. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth. Color: 143A to143B.

Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: About 30 per flower. Antherlength: About 1.5 mm. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther color: Darker than197A. Pollen amount: Scarce to moderate. Color: 157A to 157B. Pistils:Quantity: About three per flower. Pistil length: About 8 mm. Stigmashape: Two-parted. Stigma color: Close to 157D. Style length: About 7.5mm. Style color: 157B. Ovary color: 137C to l37D.

Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development has not been observed.

Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Delphinium have not beennoted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Delphinium.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Delphinium plant named‘Delft Blue’, as illustrated and described.